Vaginal Rejuvenation is Becoming More Common

Labiaplasty in 2017 has come a long way. In fact, we’re taking a look at just how popular this procedure might be—and where that popularity comes from. There are certainly “popular” ideas of why labiaplasty and vaginal rejuvenation is suddenly catching on, but the reality is a bit more complicated.

How Popular is Labiaplasty in 2017?

As a procedure, it doesn’t get talked about as much as others, so the question I think it’s important to ask: how popular is labiaplasty in 2017? According to one survey, labiaplasty is the fastest growing procedure in the world. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s the most popular. Often, the fastest growing procedures never reach the height of popularity that, say, a facelift or tummy tuck do.

Just How Popular is Labiaplasty in 2017?

But that doesn’t mean that labiaplasty isn’t an important procedure, offering significant options to women who are looking for vaginal rejuvenation. And it’s interesting to me that this procedure is growing with such energy because it’s not a widely discussed technique. That is, labiaplasty is not marketed nearly as often as a tummy tuck or liposuction.

The growth then, I think, speaks to a certain desire for the results of this procedure. Now, that desire might come from a wide variety of places, and I don’t mean to diminish the intense social pressure that often accompanies these decisions. But it’s worth looking at how popular labiaplasty is in 2017—especially compared to years in the past.

What Does Labiaplasty Do?

We might be best off starting this conversation by looking at some the reasons that labiaplasty is popular in the first place. We’ll start with what labiaplasty actually accomplishes. During the surgical procedure, the tissue around the labia is trimmed, effectively decreasing the amount of excess tissue the patient has to deal with. This excess tissue can cause a variety of issues:

Discomfort associated with exercise

Feelings of self-consciousness

Discomfort when wearing tight fitting clothing

Diminishment of pleasure during sexual activity

Many women are most comfortable discussing these issues—and the proposed fixes—in a one-on-one setting. That’s why questions about labiaplasty most often come up during consultations with plastic surgeons (in that regard, labiaplasty is not terribly different from any other plastic surgery procedure).

The procedure itself is minimally invasive, and patients are usually instructed to follow a recovery regimen for several weeks. Once recovery is complete, patients often report a significant increase in confidence and self-esteem as well as an experience that is much more comfortable.

As with any plastic surgery procedure, there are risks involved. And not everyone is going to be an ideal candidate, so you should definitely consult with a plastic surgeon before making any firm decisions.

Is Labiaplasty More Popular Than it Used to Be?

There can be little doubt that more people are talking about labiaplasty these days than there used to be. Whether that’s a cause or an effect of an increasing popularity, there’s certainly a correlation. However, there has definitely been a spike in the number of procedures performed.

According to data gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (a body which gathers statistics every year regarding plastic surgery procedures performed) the number of labiaplasties performed in 2015 vs. 2014 rose by 45%. That’s a substantial increase, and definitely makes labiaplasty one of the fastest growing procedures of the year.

(It’s worth noting that 2015 is the most recent year for which the ASPS has data—it can take a while to collect this sort of information.)

Diminishing Stigma

Part of what’s happening here, I think, is that people are talking more often about labiaplasty, and that’s leading to a diminishment in the stigma around the procedure. The more people talk about labiaplasty, especially in the context under which it’s most often performed, the less power stigma has.

And there has definitely been a stigma. Labiaplasty (and vaginal rejuvenation more broadly) has often been discussed as a kind of ultimate symbol of shallow plastic surgery. There are plenty of stories out there about how vaginal rejuvenation patients are out there looking for “designer” labias. (And, for the record, we’re certainly not in favor of anyone who is too young for plastic surgery trying to get this procedure.)

That might be true in some cases. But the vast majority of labiaplasty patients simply want to feel comfortable in their own bodies—something that excess tissue around the labia is making difficult for them. In that way, labiaplasty is much like any other plastic surgery procedure: changing the body in order to make the patient feel more comfortable.

Starting with a Consultation

It all starts with a consultation with your surgeon. Labiaplasty is certainly more popular today than it was just a year ago. Whether it’s still growing as quickly as it was in 2015 will have to wait for a more detailed statistical analysis. One thing is sure though, the more we talk about labiaplasty, the more popular labiaplasty in 2017 will be.